Smog, a poisonous element

There is no respite from smog for the people of Lahore as the city, with the air quality index (AQI) recorded at 393, was ranked as the second most polluted city in the world during the past few days. The Doctors have advised people to take precautionary measures by avoiding travelling unnecessarily, and using facemasks if travelling is inevitable.

Air pollution and smog are environmental issues caused by the release of pollutants into the atmosphere. Certain harmful substances such as particulate matter, nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide, carbon monoxide, and volatile organic compounds are added to the fresh air due to human activity and cause adverse effects on human health, ecosystems, and the environment. Smog, on the other hand, is a type of air pollution that is characterized by a mixture of smoke and fog. It often occurs in urban areas with high levels of vehicle emissions and industrial activity. Historically, the entire South Asia including Pakistan, India and Bangladesh along with several other nations in different parts of the world are currently at the top of the list of most polluted or smog-hit nations. Similarly, Lahore, New Delhi, Hyderabad, and Dhaka are the most smog-hit cities in the world.

Historically, both air pollution and smog can lead to a range of health problems, including respiratory issues, cardiovascular diseases, and even premature death. They also have detrimental effects on the environment, contributing to climate change, damaging vegetation, and harming wildlife. Efforts to reduce air pollution and smog typically involve implementing clean energy technologies, reducing emissions from vehicles and industries, and improving air quality standards and regulations.

Whilst all those practices demand a public-private partnership and core cooperation from the masses, the businesses as well as a kinetic implementation from the government departments. Previously, the Lahore City government has announced the closure of educational institutions and holidays in government offices to reduce the level of smog in the air yet all those recipes are not a long-term solution to this grave problem. The Provincial and Federal governments must initiate a strategy to curb vehicular and industrial emissions along with the introduction of protocols for the disposal of agricultural, domestic and industrial waste so no human activity could disturb the level of fresh air in the cities. Otherwise, no ad hoc measure or a timepass formula could address this poisonous element permanently at any time in the future.